French Open Champion to Kick Off Hopman Cup Action
11/10/2011

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HYUNDAI Hopman Cup XXIV (Saturday 31 December 2011 - Saturday 7 January 2012) will begin with reigning French Open champion Li Na making her debut in Perth by taking on France's world No. 11 Marion Bartoli. This is just the start of an array of fantastic encounters.

Sunday's Session 2 will see Australian No. 2 Jarmila Gajdosova take on Spanish No. 1 Anabel Medina Garrigues, and Lleyton Hewitt face former world No. 7 Fernando Verdasco in what potentially will be two of the matches of the week.

The announcement of the seedings and schedule for Hyundai Hopman Cup XXIV certainly throws up some exciting prospects and encounters that will provide for must-watch viewing whether inside the Burswood Dome or on ONE.

The draw was conducted at this afternoon's Official Launch and Draw by the Deputy Premier, Minister for Tourism, Dr Kim Hames.

The Czech Republic has been announced as the No. 1 seeds for the 24th instalment of the Hyundai Hopman Cup at the Burswood Dome as reigning Wimbledon champion world No.4 Petra Kvitova partners world No. 7 Tomas Berdych who is coming to Perth for his third appearance, but first time with Kvitova.

The Czechs will be joined in Group A by the fourth-seeded USA team of Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Mardy Fish, the Denmark team of world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and Frederik Nielsen, and Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova and Grigor Dimitrov.

Group B will feature No. 2 seeds France made up of world No. 11 Bartoli and the 17th ranked Richard Gasquet, joined by the third-seeded Spanish team of Medina Garrigues and Verdasco, the Australian team of world No. 30 Gajdosova and former world No. 1 and dual Grand Slam champion Hewitt, and China's French Open winner Na and Wu Di.

Monday evening's Session 4 will see world No. 1 Wozniacki play for the first time at the Hopman Cup and become the 24th No. 1 ranked player to do so. She will take on the USA's Mattek-Sands, who is defending champion having won earlier in 2011 alongside John Isner.

Tuesday evening sees Australia face off against the second-seeded French, in what is sure to be a pivotal tie for the Aussies.

Wednesday night's Session 8 also looms as a cracker between the Czech Republic and the USA, the two seeds from Group A. With Kvitova playing Mattek-Sands, and then world No. 7 Berdych taking on the ninth-ranked Fish, it is sure to be a tie to watch out for.

Sessions 9 and 10 over Thursday and Friday will then feature the double-headers starting with Group A with Australia playing China, and France taking on Spain, that sees Gasquet and Verdasco doing battle on the men's side.

The two have both been ranked in the top 10, are among the most exciting and naturally talented players in the game so are sure to put on a show.

On Friday, the Czech Republic plays Denmark and the USA takes on Bulgaria. That tie is perhaps highlighted by world No. 1 Wozniacki taking on world No. 4 Kvitova.

Day sessions of Hyundai Hopman Cup XXIV on Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will begin at 9.30am. New Year's Day kicks off at 3pm, and the evening Sessions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will begin at 5pm.

The double-header sessions on Thursday and Friday will start at 1pm while Saturday's Final will begin at 3.00pm.

ONE has confirmed it will televise 52 hours nationally, making the Hopman Cup the most televised single week sporting event in Australia.

Hyundai Hopman Cup XXIV, the Official ITF Mixed Teams Championship, runs from Saturday 31 December 2011 – Saturday 7 January 2012 at Perth’s Burswood Dome.

For media enquiries please call Rosita Stangl on 08 9367 8884 or 0409 117 157.

Match Schedule

Please Note: Schedule is subject to change

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